Port of Spain, Trinidad – The Jamaica Scorpions stormed into the semi-finals of the Regional Super50 Cup with a commanding 82-run victory over the struggling Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Friday.
Spearheading the Scorpions’ triumph was the fiery paceman Marquino Mindley, whose lethal spell of 5-28 dismantled the Hurricanes and cemented his side’s place among the tournament’s elite.
The victory, secured via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, was a comprehensive display of grit and determination as the Scorpions defended their rain-adjusted target of 264 with flair and ferocity.
Mindley’s magic unravels the Hurricanes
Mindley struck early to set the tone for a high-pressure chase. With just three runs on the board, he trapped Kofi James lbw for a duck in his opening over. From there, the Hurricanes struggled to find stability.
Although Chesney Hughes managed a modest 16 before falling to left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal, the Hurricanes found a glimmer of hope through a promising 52-run stand between Kadeem Henry and Jewel Andrew. However, that hope was short-lived as pacer Odean Smith removed both Henry (22) and Jahmar Hamilton (6), leaving the Hurricanes teetering at 92 for four.
A spirited partnership between Andrew and Karima Gore, worth 55 runs in nine overs, briefly revived their innings. Andrew’s polished 47 and Gore’s composed knock of 47 gave the Hurricanes a fighting chance, but Mindley’s devastating late spell extinguished all optimism.
The searing quick bowler ripped through the lower order, claiming the scalps of Raheem Cornwall, Gore, Hayden Walsh Jr, and Jeremiah Louis in rapid succession. In tandem with Brad Barnes, who triggered the collapse by dismissing Andrew, Mindley ensured the Hurricanes lost their last five wickets for a paltry 43 runs, crumbling to 182 all out in 34.3 overs.
Royal chipped in with economical figures of 2-20, while Smith added 2-40 to round out the bowling attack.
Blackwood and Smith lead Scorpions’ batting charge
Earlier, after being sent in to bat, the Scorpions showcased a balanced and dynamic batting performance. Jermaine Blackwood anchored the innings with a composed 54 off 69 balls, while the explosive Odean Smith delivered fireworks with a 33-ball 52 studded with five towering sixes and two boundaries.
Blackwood forged a crucial 79-run partnership with opener John Campbell, who contributed a steady 42. Their fourth-wicket stand propelled the Scorpions to a commanding position at 164 for three.
However, the Hurricanes clawed back through leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr, who dismissed Blackwood and Campbell in quick succession, sparking a mini-collapse that saw the Scorpions lose three wickets for just 26 runs.
It was Smith’s blistering finish that rescued the innings, as he launched a late assault to push the Scorpions to a challenging total of 264 for nine in their rain-reduced 43 overs. Walsh Jr emerged as the pick of the Hurricanes’ bowlers with 3-33, while Jeremiah Louis chipped in with 2-30.
Scorpions’s standings and semi-final prospects
With this victory, the Scorpions climbed to second place on the table with 53 points, trailing only the dominant Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, who secured the top spot with 64 points after a resounding win over the Barbados Pride. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, remain fourth with 38 points, clinging to faint hopes of advancing.
As the semi-finals loom, the Scorpions will take immense confidence from Mindley’s heroics and their collective resilience, eager to continue their march toward the Super50 title.
